This last week was a very interesting one for us. Several mini-cambios, due to Baptismal interviews (Elder Jory is District Leader), and a two day conference in Concepcion put large holes in our normal schedules, and we had to work hard the few hours we did get to try and make up the difference. However, both those experiences were very good to experience! The splits were both with excellent missionaries (Elder Clawson and Elder Hancock), and taught me great things about positive attitudes and dealing with surprises in the field. The conference was huge, and a wonderful time full of information and reunions with CCM friends. I learned and re-learned tons and tons of information regarding the work out here, and the messages and quotes and scriptures and everything continue to inspire me. The unhealthy amounts of Dunkin's Donuts, Dominos Pizzas, and home-made brownies really helped too.
To answer some questions of previous letters:
Chillàn is an excellent city. Like I said earlier, it is the second largest in the mission, and as such it spreads across a lot of ground. The area I am in is a bit poorer, but such is the city planning here that really nice neighborhoods are a two minute walk from places a bit more low-income. It is cold here, a bit more then the temperate ocean side Concepcion, but nothing a sweater, two layer jacket, a scarf, and gloves can't handle. Due to the new missionary dress code that allows hats (As long as they don't make you look too unprofessional), I am keeping my eye out for a nice head warmer I can use on these cold almost Spring nights.
As for lunch, we do go to the Member's houses for it. And it is consistently huge and delicious. I can't imagine going without the generosity of the members now. I don't think I want to! And we also have a 'Mamita' who is willing to help us out with out laundry. Hermana Jenny is a saint, and loves all the missionaries within ward boundaries. Again, I can't, or refuse to, imagine missionary work without the gratuitous aid of the miembros.
The Spanish took a bit of a setback, I think largely thanks to the all English two days in Concepcìon. But I'm still working hard, in conjunction with my trainer and on my own, to understand and speak good Spanish. We practice daily, and the members and investigators continue to have the patience of Saints or mothers or Saintly mothers with my broken language. Its improving, but its a slow process and funny/embarrassing situations still happen on a regular basis.
The four Elders in our house all work mainly in the ward boundaries of Los Volcanes, which is a pretty big area in reality. Tons and tons of houses and quite a bit of farmland/wasteland/campo is included in the district's area. Two of our Elders are Zone Leaders, so they often have to ride away on borrowed bikes to distant areas for leadership things.
We do try to teach a lot, and avoid tracting if at all possible. Matters of efficiency, advise from leaders and general authorities, and time usage all come into play here. Our first priority is teaching, though in places where few teaching appointments can be set with any level of certainty, we beat the pavement until we have a good number of conversations. The people of Chile are much more willing to have a conversation with strangers, and many good discussions have been brought out of street contacts and a few door approaches. But those things aren't incredibly successful in general.
I have been staying pretty healthy. Bugs don't really exist during this time of year, much to my everlasting gratitude after the mosquito wars in Mexico. The constant chill and equally constant humidity in the air can take a toll on the unprepared, but I have several cans of my favorite home remedy, Sprite. Soda here is more frequent than water, and asking for agua from an investigator will usually amount to a bottle of juice or Coca Cola. The natural juices are incredible, just so you know. I've had Durazno several times, and I love it.
It is good to hear that life in the home country is going good! Tell Manny I keep him in my prayers and know that obedience to the commandments brings incredible blessings. I've seen several lives be changed here in Chillàn, and its only been two weeks! Give my love to those in the Ward, if you could. I think about them from time to time (Not too much, mind you. Can`t get trunky during my first transfer!) and hope for the best for all of them.
I have not gotten any letters from home. The Strike mentioned in the title is a nationwide postal strike. It has been going for a month straight and looks to keep going for some time after today. Letters are just not getting through, but it appears packages get through without much problem. I'm not quite sure how that works. The office does not forward letters or packages or really anything except vital paperwork (See Visas, Monetary info, Transfer Schedules, or on one occasion I have heard about, arrest information). If a package or a letter makes it to the office, its up to the missionary to make the journey to Concepcion to pick it up. However, conferences or leadership meetings happen regularly, so someone can usually take deliveries back to the district pretty soon after the office gets them.
As I understand it, the Mission house moved about half a year ago. You can ask Steven what the old address was and cross that one off the list haha. I think that it is pretty safe to say that the address given to you by Presidente Arrington is the correct and current address.
I appreciate the offer, but I'm not sure if there is anything I need right now. Candy and treats are always welcome and appreciated haha, if not by me then by sneaky companions. All of my things work quite well, and I am having no problems with clothing, equipment, or anything like that. The two most treasured things that a missionary can get a hold of out here are good songs and even better talks. Music is well beloved during the waking hours of the morning, study times, and moments before bed. The rules aren't incredibly strict, and while I won't go so far as to listen to Disney songs in Spanish or movie soundtracks, I would certainly appreciate any music files that aren't more of the same. EFY and For The Strength of Youth cds are quite common, and the Mormon Rap songs I brought with me are quickly becoming hits with other missionaries. If its possible for you to send music files over email, I would certainly appreciate any you could spare! On the same level, talks from general authorities or simply inspiring messages can shape the perspective of the whole week. We, as an apartment, read through this one long discourse about four different kinds of missionaries. It shook us up pretty badly, and we were pretty committed to improvement immediately after. For several days, our thoughts were on becoming the 'fourth missionary', and our progress in the area soared and we saw miracles. That's some good stuff right there!
I love hearing the stories from home! Thank you so much for them. They certainly bring a smile to my face haha. Tell Grandma that I did get her email a while ago, and that it was amazing to read. I'm super thankful for the generations of missionary service in my family, and it certainly inspires me to new heights.
Thanks for sharing the message from Jeffrey R Holland's conference talk. I recently acquired a conference edition and several other Liahonas en inglés, and it has been a joy going through the words of modern prophets in my few moments of free time. His talk certainly touched my heart when I read it, and I've tried applying it to my life and to the lives of the people I teach.
Mom: I love you so much! Thank you for the letters that you send me. They lift my spirits and my heart soars at your words of comfort and stories of home. The special testimony of the Savior and His influence in our lives is touching. I hope to be able to express the words of my heart to the people of Chile as well as you did in this email! You're the best mom an Elder, or anyone, could ask for. Thank you so much.
Elder Elggren: What a stud! You are an absolutely fantastic missionary! Way to keep up that positive spirit out of the CCM. I`m loving the animo in your letters. Your spiritual experiences are a treat to read, and I get ridiculously excited when you mention stuff that only exists in America. I cried when you talked about Chick Fil A, no joke. The effort you put into your labors is astounding and inspiring! Way to be with that Spanish, haha. I just know that you're a bright star of missionary work, and the people of Houston South are lucky to have you there! Keep being such an awesome and obedient missionary, and the Lord will continue to shower miracles on the people you teach. Keep up the excellent work and the great letters!
Some Spiritual Stories before I close out:
On one of the transfers that I was on, I was with Elder Hancock (Also from Mesa AZ!) and we weren't having too much success with the plan we had set up before coming out. No one was home, and the street contacts weren't really bringing fruit. But we just kept being positive, and smiling to everyone, and just having a great time. In time, we met several amazing people on the streets who were ready to hear what we had to say, and we set up future discussions with them. We also visited a Member family nearby, and bore a spiritual message with them. The Spirit was strong in that room, so that even though our Spanish wasn't something to be jealous of, the family was touched. The scriptures that we shared brought the wife to tears, and the husband to the brink. He was so touch that he felt comfortable enough asking for a blessing from the two of us, and though it was in English (No one had a missionary manual in spanish or remembered the exact words), he felt strengthened enough and the pain in his leg had receded. Miracles happen to those with the correct mindset! A positive spirit can overcome all sorts of challenges.
We also talked to a woman while we were searching for some old investigators in a poorer part of town. She had been taught by a small army of missionaries through out the past few years, but never with any success. As we talked, we prayed with all our hearts that hers might be touched. We were led to which questions needed to be asked, which statements we needed to make, and which scriptures were necessary to be shared. Her granddaughter, a member and ward missionary came over to visit unannounced, and immediately the heart of the woman was softened. Our lesson was powerful, the Spirit in the room testifying of the truth. Even my Spanish, which is normally a little halting and has errors, was solid and without major flaws. We bore testimony to her, and she felt touched enough to commit to reading in the pamphlet and the Book of Mormon. An incredible experience.
We had many more powerful experiences throughout the week, and I had several at the conference and while working in the city of Concepcion. I look forward to sharing them all with you at other times.
Life is great here in Chillàn. My companion continues to be an excellent missionary and even better trainer. I've made friends in the ward and with the people here. I feel incredibly strong that this is the place I need to be, and I love it. The Spirit, if we're worthy, strives with us, and miraculous things happen with blessed regularity. This truly is God's work!
I love you all so much, and keep you all in my prayers. I know that through God all things are possible. No challenge or trial or problem that life can throw at us is beyond our ability, not when we have the great Mediator of Man at our side. I know this to be true, or else I wouldn't be 5000 miles away from home, teaching in broken Spanish to the Chilean people in the cold cement houses that are the norm. This is my testimony.
With love,
Elder Richardson
PS We acquired a heavy soccer ball last week, and regularly try to break records with number of bounces. My personal best is fifteen. The Gringo group personal best is 18. Elder Solari, our Uruguayan Elder, consistently gets at least 25.
PSS: I absolutely love that the nerdy things I grew up with in the States are popular here in Chile. Family pictures with Goku from Dragonball Z are common, and can even be found in the living rooms of investigators or members. One member has an army of GI Joe action figures, many which he made and painted himself. Though they weren't really my thing, animes are huge down here. In addition, old Cartoon Network tv shows like Johnny Bravo and the Powerpuff Girls are still rocking in Chile. I bought some old Star Wars notebooks at a story, where they were front shelf. It is hilarious, and quite awesome. I feel more nerdy now, away from video games and movies and everything, then I did back home haha.
PSSS I currently have a massive Chilean flag and a goofy hat you see on peoples' heads at soccer games. I am so ready for Sieptembre 18th, the day of Independence for Chile and host to many massive celebrations.
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